LAHORE – An Indian delegation will arrive in Lahore today (Tuesday) in a first interaction with the newly installed government under Prime Minister Imran Khan to hold water talks.

The nine-member delegation, headed by Indian Water Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Saxena will discuss the Pakal Dul and lower Kalnai projects with Pakistan.

The Pakistani delegation will be headed by Pakistani Commissioner for Indus Waters Syed Meher Ali Shah.

The dialogues will also discuss Indus Waters Treaty and other issues over the course of two days.

Pakistan had voiced strong concerns against the Pakal Dul, Lower Kalnai, and Ratle hydroelectricity projects currently under construction in Indian Occupied Kashmir on tributaries of the Chenab River.

Pakistan contends that the design of the projects violates the provisions of Indus water Treaty.

Under the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty brokered by the World Bank in 1960, water from the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers had been allocated to India while water from the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab rivers had been allocated to Pakistan.

According to the terms of the treaty, the water commissioners of both India and Pakistan are required to meet twice a year and also arrange technical visits to project sites.

The last meeting of the Pakistan-India Permanent Indus Commission was held in New Delhi in March during which both sides shared details concerning water flow and the quantity of water being used under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty.